FOREIGN QUOTA HITS ’LANDERS

MBABANE – While there were fears of some teams being caught out by the foreign quota, Mbabane Highlanders have been the first victim as they were forced to leave out Sierra Leone international Baimba Kamara.

The team registered 18 players yesterday with the Football Association (FA) but the Kamara who was most talked about when Sihlangu played Sierra Leone early this year as he featured for the national team before is not among those.
“It was a tough decision to make for the coaches as it was either him or Mbaya since we had six foreigners at training and all with contracts including Baimba. The coaches decided to go with Mbaya but Baimba remains our player,” confirmed the club’s PRO Lington Gule.

He explained that Baimba will remain with the team as after tomorrow’s game, they will sit down with the coaches again and discuss the matter further as Baimba is a must for them.
“Mbaya is expecting to get his Swazi citizenship next month hence we’re positive Baimba will be that patient as we need him and will register him in the end,” he said.
Otherwise, Gule said their supporters can expect to see midfielder Vusi Madinane, striker Ayanda Lumkwane, goalkeeper Sandile Kunene (South Africans), Mbaya Katala and Bantar Kerin among the foreigners in the team as they are all ready for tomorrow’s game against Young Buffaloes.

He said another player they could not register was midfielder Manqoba Ndwandwe as there was still an issue over who should clear him to Highlanders between Bantu City and Mhlambanyatsi Rovers. However, the FA Player Status Committee ruled this week that the player belongs to Bantu City who want E25 000 from Highlanders for the player’s release. “We’re also expecting that our former player Dumsani ‘DU’ Mdluli, who left for Buffaloes, will be available for selection tomorrow as we’re sorting out a few issues with him. Otherwise, we’ve been handed all his papers,” he said.

A source at the FA also confirmed Highlanders did not register the Sierra Leone defender while the all the other foreign players were registered. Other teams that were confirmed to have registered new players are RSSC United, Moneni Pirates, Manzini Wanderers, Malanti Chiefs and Red Lions.
Meanwhile, another team that was reportedly likely to be have same problem as Highlanders are neighbours and traditional rivals Mbabane Swallows who also have more six foreign players at their helm with five already registered but they still have striker Kudzanayi ‘Vibes’ Matanda unregistered.

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